Locking device



"i ,gssasss' LOCKING Drayton? yOwen Roblellisl"anniflIrl...k y Application Noventaiafleziajsgrial59.465.912'

" .i 17: Clarins. (01.'1'88A-'63711- (Grantcdutnderthefact of March 3, l1883, as

amendedllprilll, 1928; 3700. G. 757) The invention described herein maybe manu-` factured and used by -or for the Government for: governmental purposes, without payment to me` of any royalty thereon.

The present invention relates generally to locking devices and more particularly to mechanism for optionally securing a pair of relatively .movable parts against movement.'` y l ..1

'The object and general nature of this invention is the provision of new and improved locl -A ing mechanism for holding a movable part option` ally against movement with respect to a relatively stationary part, the locking mechanism :being particularly constructed so as to provide an initial yielding engagement followed automatically byV a positive lock whereby ythel two parts are held against rrelative displacement substantially withV` out any likelihood of becoming disconnected until the locking mechanism is released.

A more specific feature of this invention is the provision of a new and improved turret lock* for military tanks for optionally locking a rotatable turret to a relatively stationary'part of the tank; and more particularly it is a feature of this invention to provide new and improved turret locking means associated with the turret traversing mechanism and utilizing a part thereof. Itis, further, another feature of this invention to provide means whereby the control of the turret lock may conveniently and easily be eifected- It is to be understood, however, that the principles of this invention are equally applicable to non-military uses, and may be used wherever it is desired to controllably hold two parts-against relative movement. "I f Another feature of this invention is the provision of a springebiased lockingbolt `which may optionally be engaged with the toothedpart for insuring va full locking engagement, irrespective of whether or not the parts are in relative Ino` tion at the time. Still further, another feature of this invention is to provide new and improved lock operating means whereby the lock is automatically held in engaged or released position without danger of loosening orshifting during operation.

These and other object-.sand` advantages of the A present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after av consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred structural embodiment, taken in conjunction with the ac-` 110-portedon3a relatively. stationary part 2. such-as 5 drive pinion notshowm meshing withteeth y20 locking.:mechanismindicated -at 5. The lock 5 may beL secured to'the,turretfririgvv l disposed The other end |16.: of. the bracketgr is ed toy mesh withthe teeth 0n the ringfgear V4.k

4o ing bolt vManelrattlceother endis forririedwith 30 having arecess 3l tion niani opening in the pin 23, :As best shown ber-,218.v and-asbest shownibligures}2 and; ar

-ENTL OFFICE I Figurez is a. horizontal section takenisencrally along the lineLE-f-Z ofFieure l; y

Figure 3. isan .end vi'ewllocking from right.V to.; left in Figure l;,-anzd .1 Vf. n Figures 4 and 5 are sectionstaken,l respectively., along the lines 4 4 and 5,5' ofFigure 2.

AReferring now to.. the drawing, the. reference numeral` I; indicates: a'vmovable part,V Such its` a. turretesupportns ring or tall raceof atank,.sup

the lowerr ball;raeg Generally, the kturret.; repre-y sented by the'upperpring i, is rotated by poweru traversing mechanismthat is carried bythe rotatr ableparts and includes a powerwunit having aV on airing ,gear tthat; issecured .toiorfforms apart ofthe lower stationary-*part 2. ,y 5; y

'It isV desirable at'times to lock thetugrret against movementuand to that end :I `provide improved includes a :support in4 the form Yof a. .blak or lockingbo'lt carrier 8, preferably inthe .form-, of a castingrhaving apertured attachingV ears 9 that are Vadapted to receivefboltssl tbwWhichthe lock shasahollow bodysectioni wlnc iszformed with-af bolt-yreceiving way L3, substan' tially square in sectonas best .ShQWn. -r1 Figure ,5r in which a locking,bolt-orplunger I4 issl-idably providedvwith-a key-hole opening H; having a pairlof oppositeslots I8.. I Y

. The-.lockingtoit .u that- 1s shi ,able 'in the way i3. carries a pluralityY of; teeth v2l whicha adapt- The teeth andllvare Yof conventional consuration,rbeinggener tapered. and are tlfie same as or similar to ordinary t' gearteeth..H A rod 2*@ is secured atoneend; as by a pin 12,14, tothe lock-r a head 25; Anoperalting band1e, indicated in. its entirety bytheyreference. numeral 28, is roclgaloly mounted onthe pirrcr rod23 andincludes a :sleeve section-:29 embracing the pin .23,7 and a.- ection 'ch receives ,theh ad 25. A pair., o f extensions-.32 for Section 3l forms; the handlev proper. l

ate its ends the sleeve section 29 has in Figure `5, the slot y351s formedso that the han-Y dlemember 2 permitted to ing'throughlapa proximately v Apairofzlocking lugsior ear:v 36, areformedonfor carried by the handle mem disposed in a horizontal position, generally tra verse with respect to the opening in the other end and at the inside thereof. A cup-shaped member l lugs or ears 36, as best shown in Figure 2. A spring'38 bears at one end against the member 31 and ai; the otherend against the locking bolt I4, being received in a recess 39 formed in the bolt I4. The spring 38 exerts a continual bias tending to shift the bolt' I4 into locking engageis disposed in the'recess 3| and has its inner end outer end 43 lying in a groove 44 formed in the member 28. A plate 45 covers the Aend kof the re,` cess 4I and is removably held in place by a pair of screws 46. The plate 45 also secures the springV end 43 in place.

The operation of my locking substantially as follows:

The parts of the device are shown infFigureZ in the positions they occupy when the turret ring-I is locked to the supporting part 2. rThe torsion spring 4|, acting between the handle member 28 and, through the pin 23, the locking bolt IIL-reacts against the latter to hold the Y operating handle in its locked position. To release the bolt .|4, the handle 28 is turned in a clockwise direction (Figure 3) through approximately 9(l against the tension of the torsion spring 4I, as permitted by the slot 34 and pin 35 -(Figure 5). This disposes the ears or lugs 36 in a vertical position in line with the slotsV I8 (Figure 4). The handle 28 is then pulled outwardly of the bracket 8, withdrawing .the bolt I4 against the action of the spring 38 until the teeth 2| are disengaged from the teeth 3. During this action the ears or lugs 36 pass through the slots VI8 and after they clear the edges of the slots, the handle may be rotated counterclockwise untilrthe ears 36 engage the' end -I6Yof the .bracket 8 at points between the slots I8,"whereby the bolt I4 is locked in its withdrawnor released position. The spring 38 is compressed but so long as the lugs 36 remain engaged with the end I6, and the effect of the torsionA VSpring 4I is to hold the lugs 36 in that position,the bolt is locked against moving into engagement with the ring. gear 4.

When Yit is desired to reengage the bolt I4 with the ring gear 4 so as. to; lock the turret against movement, all the operator has Vto do is to turn the handle so as to bring the ears 36 into a position to enter the slots I8. 'I'he handle may then be released,whereupon the spring 38 shifts the locking bolt I4 forwardly. As Vsoon as the teeth on-the locking bolt mesh with the 'teeth on the ring gear 4 the lugs 36 will be in a position inside the 'end wall I6, whereupon thetorsion spring 4I will immediately swing the lugs 36 behind the end wall I6, therebylocking the bolt I4 in its outer or operative position.

This is an important featureof myinventiom inasmuch as the torsion spring 4I acts -immediately to rock the handle 28 and swing the ears 36 behind the wall I6, after the teeth are in mesh, and serves to hold the handle in locked osition, ,without requiring the operator to acually operate the handle. Further, if for any eason the teeth do not immediately mesh, the `pring 38 will shift theparts into engagement soon as meshing occurs, whereupon thetorion springr-4|`will then swing the lugs 36 be-V ind the wallIIi, `thereby automaticallylocking,

he bolt 'I4 in engagement with'the gear 4.

31 surrounds the sleeve section 29 but clears the 42 seated in an opening in the head 25 and its,

ment with the ring gear 4. A torsion spring 4| turns the ears or lugs 36 into looking position behind the wall I6, as shown inl Figure 4, positively locking Athe bolt. I4 against being forced outwardly by pressure against the teeth.A In addition, the continual bias exerted by the torsion spring 4I holds the handle 38 against accidental displacement due to vibrations, jars and the like, both when the turrent is locked and when it lis lunlocked.

n While rI have disclosed the preferred form of myv invention, it is to be understood that my invention .is not to be limited to the details shown and described but that, in fact, Widely different means may be employed in the practice` of the broader aspects of my invention.

VWhatI claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: Y

1. Mechanism for positively locking a pair of relatively movable members against movement, comprising a part carried on one of said members and shiftable thereon 1 into and out of locking connection lwith the other member, a bracket rigidly mounted on said one member and shiftably receiving said shiftable part, and means mountedon said shiftable part and engageable with said bracket for positively holding said shiitable'. part in either locked orV released position. Y k

2. Mechanism for locking a pair' of relatively 40 movable members, one Jof said members comprising a ring gear having a plurality of teeth theref on, a carrier mounted on the other member ad# jacentthetoothed portion o f said ring gear, a locking bolt having tooth means adaptedtofmesh with the teeth of said ring gear, said Vlocking bolt -beingslidable in said carrier toward'Y and away iromj said. ring (gear, resilient means acting against saidlocking bolt for lmoving it into mesh with said. rinagear. and means ,far positively maintaining said bolt tooth means inmesh with said ringvgear teeth. Y

3. potent mechanism comprising a support, a partslidable thereon, spring means biasing said slidable part for movement in one direction rela-y tive to said support, a handle carried by 'said slidablepart for limited rotation with respect 'thereto but held against axial displacement, means on said handle adapted to engage a'portion of said support for preventing movementiofsaid slldable part in one' direction, said means being adapted.toengagel another portion of said support fr preventing movement 'of said slidable part in theother directiongand torsionV spring means acting (against said handle for rotating' it into' a position to cause said :nears to engage' one or the other positions of'support.

4. A locking kdevice comprising a support'having, a bolt-receivingway at Vone endj anda keyhole opening at' theother end, a .locking bolt slidable in said way," arod xedjat one endto saidlocking bolt y'and having its other end extending through said opening, Aa handle member rockably mountedlon saidurod and extending through said opening, lI neans on said rodfand handle member forA holding they latter against axial .displacement -on said .rod and limiting the rocking movement of said handle memberion said rod, -said key-hole opening 'having-a central .section and a` pair of oppositelyarranged slots, 5.a pair of oppositely arranged lugs Von said .handle member and adapted, when theV latteris turned into 4one position,l to pass through said slots, a cup-shaped member .surrounding said handle member `on the inside 10i said support and'about said opening, said cup-shaped member being adapted to receive .said lugs in the inner position of said handle member, a spring bearing at one end against said cup-shaped member and :at its otherend .against .said locking bolt,l said spring serving to urge said bolt and handle` member in one. direction, and a torsion `spring connected at one end to the outer end of said rod and at its other `end to said handle member for rocking the latter in a direction to carry said lugs away from said slots in either position ofthe handle member. )5. In a locking device, a 'locking boltan operating handle connected with said loc-king bolt .and rockable relative thereto, means holding said handle member against axial movement relative to said locking bolt but accommodating said rocking movement, and a torsion spring connected with said locking bolt and said vhandle member for rocking the latter relative to said locking bolt. `V(i. In a locking device, a locking bolt, an operating handle including a recessed section and a sleeve section, a pin having a head seated in said recessed section, and extending through said sleeve section, means connecting the inner end of said pin to said locking boltymeans limiting the rotational-movement of said handle on said pin, and a torsionspring disposed in said recessed section and connected at one end with said pin and at the other end with said handle.`

7. Mechanism for locking a pair of relatively movable members against movement, comprising a part carried on one end of said members and shiftable thereon into and out of locking connection with the other member, means mounted on said shiftable part and cooperating with one of said members for positively holding said part in either locked or released position, rst resilient means constantly biasing said shiftable part towards locking connection with said other member,

and second independent resilient means constantly biasing said holding means towards posiv tive locking position and operative to maintain said shiftable part against axial shifting in either the locked or released position of the latter.

8. Mechanism for locking a pair of relatively movable members against movement, comprising a part carried on one of said members and shiftable thereon into and out oi locking connection with the other member, a combined retracting and locking handle for optionally locking said part in either of its positions and for shifting said shiftable part from one position to the other, and means connecting said shiftable part and said handle constructed and arranged whereby to prevent axial movement While permitting limited rotational movement therebetween.

9, Mechanism for locking a pair of relatively movable parts against movement, one of said parts having teeth of generally tapered form, said mechanism comprising a support xed to the other of said relatively movable parts, a plunger movable relative to said support and having with the support in'veitherv position ofthe bolt and teeth thereon and the other ofrfsaidpar-tsj'havinga positive, locking `p ositionandV operatingrlxandle o support and having tooth means also of generally tooth means also of generally tapered form said: plunger. to .s'aid'one part notlsaid teeth areinirneshlngpositon. locking means coope'rating with said 'support andzsaid plunger for 'automatically positivelylockingv parts upon movement of said teeth from :.non`-: meshing to meshing position.` n'. 'i

.10., A locking device .comprising a support have y ing ka bolt receiving -`way' atone yendand fa keyhole opening at the :other end, alocking boltslidable in Isaid way, ,a handle'frockably disposed. in. .said opening and" having-iets inner: 4(end rock-ably Anested and. adapted'to shift saidslooltbymdal movement ci thexhandie through saidopening, and a lug` on saidihandle :adaptedfto be disposed, when the-handle :and .bolt are: in-one position relative to said support, on one-side :arbeid-wpen-` ing and to react against [said other pend ofv-the support to hold Ysai-d bolt in onepo'sitio'm turning said handle serving V:to dispose said lug, ina pb'sif tion to passthrough said keyhole .opening so-,as tu' provide for moving said handle and ,bolt'irom one position vinto their otherl positiomwhereupon turning of the handle disposes fsaidflugfagainst the .other side of said opening so as tol hold said bolt and handle in :said other position,l spring means acting between saidsupport. andcbolt for urgingv the latter viorit'ard into one` position and between said support and said handle :for rocking the latter to carry said lnginto'lockedrelation handle;V Y f i 11. In mechanism for lockinga pair of `parte against relative rr'iovement.` oneof said parts haw ingk a toothed sectionyincluding -apluralityvof detent adapted kto. mesh with said toothed section, positive locking means forsaid'detent tounyieldinglyholdthe latter fin locking position, means biasing ,sa-id locking. means for `movementinto means operatively, associatedwith said detent for positively retracting the latter out of engagement with vsaid toothed section.

12. Mechanism for positively-lockinga pair of relatively movable parts against movement, one of said parts having teeth of generally tapered form, vsaid mechanism comprising a support rigidly mounted on the other of said relatively movable parts, a plunger movable relative to said tapered form adapted to mesh with the teeth on said one part so as to lock said parts against relative movement, resilient means exerting a constant bias tending to cause said plun-ger to engage said one part, means for unyieldingly holding said plunger in locking engagement with said one part so as to positively prevent any movement of said plunger away from said one part resulting from the generally tapered form of said teeth and any tendency of one part to move relativeto the other which otherwise might be suicient to overcome said resilient means, and loperating handle` means operatively associated with said plunger, for positively retracting the latter out of engagement with the teeth on said one part.

13. In mechanism for locking a pair of parts against relative movement, one of said parts having a toothed section including a plurality of teeth thereon and the other of said parts having a detent adapted to mesh with said toothed sec-` tion, positive locking means for said detent, to vunyieldingly hold the latter in locking position, means biasing said locking means for movement into positive locking position, and operating handle means operatively associated with said detent for positively retracting the latter out of engagement with `.said toothed section, `said locking m'eans beingfoperative to Ipositively,maintain said dete'ntnin` unlocked .position upon retractionV thereof. v

14. Mechanism for V,positively locking a pair of relatively movableparts against movement, one

of saidrparts havingteeth of 'generally tapered move'relativeto'theother which otherwise might be sufcient to overcome `said resilient means, andv operating handle means operatively associated'with said plunger for positively retracting the latter out of engagement vwith the teeth on said one part, said holding means being operable'topositively maintain said plunger in unlocked position upon retraction thereof.

l5. In a locking device, a locking bolt; an operating handle. including a recessed section and a sleeve section, alpin having a head seated in said recessed section, yand extending through said sleeve section, means connecting the inner end of said pin to said locking bolt, means limiting the rotational movement'of said handle on said pin, a torsion spring disposed in said recessed section and connectedlat one end'with said pin and at the other end with said handle, 'means forming a -groovein the outer face of said handle adjacent Vsaid recess 'adaptedstofreceive one 'end of said torsion spring, and a coverV plate `for said recess operative to secure said one torsion spring end within said groove.

16;'A`torque transmitting device comprising in combination, a generally cylindrical torque applying member having a longitudinal passageway and an enlarged coaxial recess therein open at oneend, a torque receiving member including an elongated generally cylindrical portion adapted to lie partially within and to partially project from said passageway and an enlarged head portion adapted to be substantially entirely contained within said recess, means forming a groove in' said torque applying member adjacent the open end of said recess, a torsion spring mounted in'said'recess and having one end secured to said head portion and its other end lying in said groove, a generally at cylindrical cover plate, and means mounting said vcover plate on said torque applying member whereby t6 close .the open end of said recess and to secure said other spring end within said groove.l

17. In a torque transmitting device the cornbination comprising, a rst member adapted to have a force applied thereto, a second member adapted to receive the force transmitted thereto from said first member, at least one of said members having a substantially ihollow recess therein open at one end, said recessed member including a groove formed therein adjacent its open end, spring means mounted in said recess and having one vend lying in said groove of` said recessed member and the other end secured to said other member, a cover plate mounted on said recessed member and constructed and arranged whereby to close the openend of said recess and to secure saidl one end of said spring'within said groove.

- OWEN W. MARLOW. 

